As flames started to lick the front deck of the burning cruise ship New Zealander Cathy Kewish knew there was no other choice but to jump for her life into the water.

“You just know you had to do it because the flames were that close. If you didn’t you were going to die,” said the mum of X-Factor contestant Tom Batchelor.

Mrs Kewish and husband Barry were among 37 international tourists on board the Aphrodite who lept for their lives to escape a fire that engulfed their vessel in the popular Ha Long Bay in northern Vietnam.

It was meant to be the dream holiday for the Leeston couple, which included attending an ANZAC memorial in the wartorn country, and ending with an overnight sightseeing cruise. Instead it turned into a fiery nightmare that Mrs Kewish has described as “very, very scary”.

Miraculously no one perished in the blaze but Mrs Kewish has described the panic that set in once those herded on to the top deck realised the fast-approaching flames were headed towards them.

“The ship’s manager said don’t panic and it was just the engine overheating and there was no cause for alarm.”The fire alarms had gone off when were sitting around having brunch,” she said.

“Everyone carried on with their cups of tea.”

The smell of smoke grew stronger as the ship docked back in the bay.

The fire alarm resounded and the passengers were directed onto the top level assembly point.